Jesus and the Pharisees “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20) In the four gospels there are numerous accounts of antagonistic interaction between Jesus and the Pharisees. The Pharisees claimed Mosaic authority for their interpretation of Hebrew Scriptures….
Parables of Grace “Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables; without a parable he told them nothing.” Matthew 13: 34 In chapter 9 of Luke’s gospel we are told that Jesus “turned his face toward Jerusalem.” As he traveled south from his native Galilee, he preached to many large crowds. Luke tells us…
Joseph, the Dreamer The first book of the Hebrew Scriptures is essentially a collection of stories. The book opens with the story of creation and ends with a very long story of how the descendants of Abraham ended up living in Egypt. The final 20 chapters of the Book of Genesis consist of a collection…
Paul’s Letter to the Church in Colossae In the last days of Paul’s life, he was held prisoner in the city of Rome. Because he was a Roman citizen, he was allowed certain privileges. He was allowed visitors including his personal physician, Luke. Because of his failing eyesight he was allowed to have a scribe….
“Lessons in Living from the Book of Ruth” Most of the important people in the Hebrew Scriptures are men. An interesting exception to this is David’s grandmother, Ruth. She is portrayed as a courageous and resourceful woman who perseveres in overcoming personal tragedy. In many ways Ruth offers us a model of how to live…
“The Three Letters of John” According to Christian tradition, John, the Beloved Disciple”, and Mary, the Mother of Jesus, spent their last days in Asia Minor in the city of Ephesus. It is further believed that the church in Ephesus together with several other churches in that area formed what can be referred to as…
“The Abrahamic Tradition” As we make our way through the Bible we encounter many stories of people who were convinced that they had special roles to play in the fulfillment of God’s purpose for mankind. Jacob and Moses are examples of such people in the Old Testament — Mary and Paul in the New Testament. …
Reading Isaiah From a 21st Century Perspective This summer the Wednesday Morning Bible Study Group will be focused on six of the magnificent spiritual poems preserved for us in the Book of Isaiah. In addition to exploring the historical context in which these poems were composed, the group will also be discussing their…
Six Parables of Jesus “Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables; without a parable he told them nothing. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet: “I will open my mouth to speak in parables; I will proclaim what has been hidden from the foundation of the world.” …
Paul’s Letter to the Church in Ephesus As we read the epistles addressed to emerging churches in cities of the Roman Empire, we are able to capture the spirit and concerns of the early followers of Christ. In those days, the religion that would eventually be known as “Christianity” was referred to simply as “The…